National Healthcare Disparities Report - LDI Health Economist

Health System Infrastructure
n Discharge percentage:
o The percentage of Medicaid and uninsured patients discharged from government hospitals was
significantly higher than from private hospitals. Compared with private nonprofit hospitals, a
greater percentage of patients discharged from investor-owned hospitals was covered by
Medicaid or uninsured.
o Nearly 30 percent of patients discharged from teaching hospitals were uninsured or covered by
Medicaid, compared with about 24 percent of patients in nonteaching facilities.
o Although the difference in percentage of Medicaid and uninsured discharges was statistically
significant between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan hospitals, regional differences were noted.
Hospitals in western States discharged a greater proportion of Medicaid and uninsured patients
(31%), while hospitals in the Midwest discharged the lowest percentage of patients (21%).
n Aggregate costs:
o Nearly one-third of government hospitals’ patient care costs were associated with the Medicaid
and uninsured population; about one-fifth of costs for private nonprofit hospitals was associated
with this population.
o Among hospitals in the West, Medicaid and uninsured patients accounted for about 24 percent of
inpatient costs compared with 16 percent among hospitals in the Midwest.
Chapter 8
National Healthcare Disparities Report, 2011
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